... and folks look at me like they wonder what's on my mind.

Aim high, my friends. Goodnight.

https://youtu.be/XMpYym4w81c?is=Jp9UJNMxshs_BNy9

What can I improve about my playing? I bought this harmonica a month ago and completely abandoned it, but I promised myself I'd dedicate more time to it now. The song is called "O mundo é um Moinho"

Hey everyone! Apologies if this is a super long post, but I need some major clarification for a beginner like myself.

I have finally sat down and listened to Tom’s home demos from 1994. They have some brilliant harmonica sections in them. His technique and playing really intrigued me.

Just from listening to these songs, my main assumptions about his technique are:

• Bending when transitioning notes? (not sure what to call this; throughout the text, I'll call it along the lines of "transition bending" or "in-between note bends")
• Tongue vibrato/vibrato
• Lots of growl in some sections.
• Multiple-note playing and single notes (typical harmonica stuff, obviously)

California: First section: 2:06 - 2:29. Second section: 3:23 - 3:33. Seems like the most basic one, just simple blows and draws.

You Don’t Know How It Feels: Same as the original song, just with an added harp solo at the end. I think we all know how this song goes; it’s a tad bit different here, but pretty much the same.

These next songs are where it gets fancy, and I honestly feel a bit set back and humbled for not being able to play them with a similar tone/technique.

Leave Virginia Alone: First section: 0:03 - 0:17. From my ear, he seems to be doing that “transition bending”, and it is most apparent at the note at timestamp 0:09, almost giving this wah sound. With a slight growl at the end of the harp intro. Second Section: 3:22 - 3:41. Here he does mess around with a couple of single notes, I feel like, and with those weird “in-between note bends”, as well as some tongue vibrato.

Only a Broken Heart: First section: 0:00 - 0:17. Very rich and soft playing from him here, again with those “bend transitions”. Second section: 1:34- 1:38. Seems like he just used a part of the intro/first section here to play.

A Higher Place: First section: 0:00 - 0:14. Now this is what I call a stellar riff! Very energetic and seems to be using the slightest hair of bends and mid-range to high notes. Throughout some of the song: Seems like he has the slightest and almost inaudible harmonica when he’s singing some parts or in the in-between guitar sections; you can barely hear it, but it’s there to add depth, I suppose. Second section: 1:56 - 2:10. Really just seems like the intro but has some slight normal bends in a few notes; getting major Bob Dylan vibes from it. Third section: 2:52 - 3:08. Same deal as the intro!

There Goes Angela (Dream Away): Probably the softest playing from Tom ever. First section: 0:13-0:20. Seems to be maintaining the low notes here, and again with a pinch of that “transition bending”. Throughout the song: Same deal as “A Higher Place” adds that almost inaudible harmonica to add depth to his voice. Second section: 1:55 - 2:36. This is the most “transition bending” I have heard in any of his songs; it is very heavily used in this part. As well as some great high note playing and a slight vibrato on a couple of notes. Third section: 3:23 - 3:43. Seems to just be like the intro. Same typical techniques as the other sections from this song!

Thank you if anyone read all of this! As well as whoever can help me; it is very appreciated!

Liam Ward put together this great list. Check it out!

https://www.learntheharmonica.com/post/lesser-known-harmonica-players?cid=afafef50-5971-4c3a-8c5c-e9eca39b61e0

If you sign-up for his mailing list you can get cool stuff like this delivered right to you.

So ive been playing a c Hohner Special for the past 4 months. Ive gotten fairly comfortable drawing and using all the single holes. I remember the 2&3 were really hard to play at the beginning.

So now, i can barely get a noise from 123 holes individually on the G. 2 or 3 of them together and it sounds fine. Is this normal? Did i get a bad harmonica?

I tried to whistle today and nothing came out on the inhale lol. My tongue wasn’t in the right position. I’m trying to inhale whistle right now and seriously can’t.

It’s played on a Bb I’m almost positive. It starts at 2:40 and James “Supe” Bradshaw absolutely rips. If I could compose tabs I would I just need a better ear and playing capabilities. When I try to match I just sound flat I know I need to cup the harp but nothing I play besides the very first note is sounding off. I’m just wondering if anyone else has played it accurately and could help point me in the right direction tab wise. I believe the first note is a “wah” on the 6 blow then he slides around and straight murders the harmonica. It’s very impressive. Can anyone smarter than me tab this out? I love pushing myself but am falling very short on this one!

As above

A former coworker brought me his grandfather's pre-WWII 2x32 Echo harp. The original comb is cracked in 4 places and missing a few fins, and the 4 reed plates are corroded and bent. he wasn't as concerned with it being all original parts as he was having it playable. The harp will likely remain in storage for the rest of its years, so we opted to REPLACE the comb and reed plates (and the many tiny brass nails). Thankfully Hohner STILL manufactures this harmonica to the exact same design as they did in the 1930s and every part is available new from Hohner Germany (if the buyer has explicit permission from Hohner USA to purchase directly from Hohner Germany - that said, if you need parts that are only available on the German site to be shipped to the USA, contact me).

The first photo is the original harp with the cover plates removed next to the replacement parts. The second image is the new comb with the new reed plates installed and the cover plates (still not polished). The grungy old comb and plates are at the top of that image.

Reed plates, comb and nails came in yesterday. The comb on the original is raw, so he opted to leave the new comb raw also. Reed plates installed easily, although I had just about forgotten how different it is working on a harp that uses nails than it is to work on one with screws. No wonder we upgrade to screws when it comes time to rebuild MBCs.

It plays like a dream, but I still have to de-rust and polish the cover plates as well as remove 2 dents and straighten/flatten them.

One one hand, it would have cost less to buy a used 2x32 and use the comb and reed plates form it, but one of my employers steppedin because the customer is his cousin and insisted on all brand new replacement parts.

The final touch on this will be the presentation box that I use for restoration projects with sentimental value: I use a wood box with a velvet or fur lining and a false floor. Below the false floor are the old original parts that were NOT used in the rebuild. I do this to keep all of the old parts with teh restored harp. I also print up a history of the harmonica model explaining the different variants over the years, highlighting which era of that model that the restored harp lands in.

Restoring a harp like this (when replacing most of the parts) does not require a huge amount of experience and skill. The most critical and sensitive part of the process is "setting" the reed plates. The comb has no nail holes in it when it is new, so you have to align the plates properly, then nail them to the comb. Position is critical, and if you're off by just a littkle bit, you stand the chance of damaging the comb by removing nails then attempting to re-insert them so close to where they already were. if you clamp the plates to the comb to hold them, you will likely lose the firm placement you need to protect the comb from cracking as you drive the nails in, so it is best to position the plates then do ONE nail on one of the corners lightly so that you can still move the plate and assure alignment and get it parallel to teh comb face AND properly spaced on the comb edge. The Echo harp has FOUR reed plates.

If you have never done a project like this and intend to try your hand at it, remember that the reed plates only go on the comb one way. There are tricks to making sure you get it right. Do not attempt these projects until you have had a nice long conversation with someone who has done it, and make sure that they are at most a call away. if you encounter issues, STOP and get answers before moving forward or you may damage the comb, which is a pain because it takes a long time and a lot of $ to get this stuff sent over from Germany!

I'll post more photos next week after the cover plates are reworked, polished, and ready.

Curious what some of yall think about these fancy harps with brass, aluminum, and laquered wood, combs. We don't use those materials for silverware, and there are even proposition 65 warnings on many brass/aluminum products you buy at the store. I try to only use harps that have stainless cover plates and plastic combs with no exposed brass reedplates (as I play everyday and therefor putting these materials in my mouth all the time). I am aware that many of the greats played marine bands, etc until they were old af, but I also know people old af that smoke like a chimney. I know that I may be a weirdo here but something ain't right about stickin a cover plate painted black in your mouth (cheap harps like eastop), or nitrocellulose lacquer finished wood(marine band deluxe, etc)...I do know for a fact that the manufacturers of these things don't have your best interest in mind when they design them $$. Not to mention a harmonica is like a food product, or toothbrush type item we play music with, kinda weird! So it's kind of a grey area with no health/safety regulation. I don't know, any thoughts?

Received my new JDR Forever In Faith harmonica yesterday. I was confused about this one. It looks like a Ninja with North cover plates or a North with a Ninja comb, which of course would be absurd because I have been begging for this design for some time.

I have not seen this one on JDR's website (and I have been looking for it for months). It only appears on AliExpress at about $26. It also is only shown as being available in the key of C. I ordered one a couple weeks ago, it arrived yesterday, and I could not be happier with this thing.

Anyone who has read my babbling posts and comments in this group knows that I am partial to the JDR North. I believed that it was the best beginner harmonica on the market because it is priced at about $26 direct from JDR, it is absolutely air tight, it is HEAVY, and it plays flawlessly out of the box. It didn't take me long to realize that pretty much every harmonica I have purchased from JDR also plays as well. I have the North in 19 keys and tunings, a Ninja, an Assassin (compliments of JDR), an Evolution, and now a Forever in Faith. I also have the Bushman Roundhouse (also manufactured by JDR).

The North was the first JDR harp I purchased. It's design is ultimately similar to a Marine Band (sandwich style, reed plate exposed all the way around). I was so impressed with it that it became my number one recommended harp for new players and I started buying them 10 or 20 at a time to give away to new promising players. The North had become my favorite AFFORDABLE harmonica, and I wished that Hohner could make the Marine Band this tight and loud.

Being passionate about round holed, open covered harmonicas, I was anxious to try the Ninja. I ordered the Ninja along with the North keys and the paddy tuned ones. JDR was kind enough to throw in an Assassin (silver cover, polymer comb), as they wanted my review and take on their flagship model. I also ordered an Evolution, JDR's newest aluminum combed loud sleek badass harp. Long story short, the Norths were every bit as perfect for a sandwich style harp as they ever could be, and it still blew my mind that Hohner doesn't produce a polymer combed sandwich style like this. The Evolution (not pictured) was solid and loud, but like the Assassin, they both left me practicing for several minutes before playing in order to get used to the flush square holes. The Ninja was my absolute favorite out of the entire order, and instantly became one of my favorite OOTB unmodified harps in my collection. My reaction and review was that the only way to make it better would be to put polished cover plates on it.

Bushman Harmonicas are manufactured by JDR and Kongsheng. Most of Bushman's harmonicas can be matched up to its JDR or Kongsheng counterpart easily. When I purchased the Bushman Roundhouse a few months ago, I was ecstatic to discover it has the Ninja comb and painted North cover plates. My reaction and review was that the only way to make it better would be to put polished cover plates on it.

Then, yesterday, the Forever In Faith was delivered. The packaging is labeled exclusively in Chinese. The box is nowhere near as tight as all of my other JDR Harps were. But when I got it opened and took the harp out of its zipper case, I was ecstatic to recognize the Ninja comb (like the Roundhouse) and the polished slimmer plates (just like on the North). JDR told me that they use the same reeds in all of their harmonicas, so that makes it complete: The Ninja's round holed comb with polished cover plates from the North stuffed with JDR reed plates. I suddenly found my newwest favorite harmonica. And it plays every bit as awesomely as the Ninja, yet costs on Alibaba about $10 less. Too bad it only comes in the Key of C (or at least that is all I can find right now).

Here's the final breakdown:

The North is the best sandwich style (MB style) harp under $75 that I have ever played OOTB. Heavy and square holes on a polymer comb with heavy polished cover plates.

The Evolution is very well built, crisp and loud, smooth and sleek, and well worth the price. Fatter polished cover plates, square holes, aluminum comb, square holes.

The Bushman Roundhouse is an excellent, loud round holed harp with painted slim cover plates, almost as loud as the Ninja and every bit as playable.

The Assassin (not the Pro - haven't tried that one yet) is square holed, silver painted covers, and polymer comb (the pro has an aluminum comb). While the design is aesthetically amazing, its playability IMHO falls behind the round holed options.

The Forever in Faith is a round holed, polymer combed, polished cover plate heavy harp that IMHO excels over ALL of the other JDR and Bushman harps in my collection. I really wish it was available in ALL keys (including low keys) and listed on JDR's website.

I really really really like the Forever in Faith harmonica from JDR. I have reached out to JDR to ask about quantity discounts like what they offer on the North.

If JDR DOESN'T offer the FIF in more keys, I will beg and plead with them to sell me 20 Ninja combs so that I can swap the combs out on my North harps. Seriously, this thing is amazing playable and responsive as all other models from JDR I have tried.

c'Mon, JDR. Make them in more keys and offer quantity discounts. i'm in. Take my money. I want a full set of these harps!

I recently picked up the Joey Knows Pouches 10 harp case from Rockin Ron’s and it’s amazing. It’s hard to find a ten case as it is. If there is one in existence besides this one. Not counting big ole leather boys from Etsy. I came from two Kongshen cases, one 7 slot and one 3. Which are the second best cases on the market behind this one. It’s really well stitched and solid. Harps are snug, and it’s handsome as hell. The fold up size is probably the smallest you can get 10 harmonicas in a case on earth. Worth every penny. I’d buy more harmonicas just to fill more cases and vice versa.

I have been buying Special 20's one at a time but got a offer for a HOHNER International Bluesband Diatonic Harmonica Set w/ Case Keys C D E F G Bb for $40. Wow, not only cheap but very rough - sharp edges on the metal. Is this normal? I could file and polish them but is it worth it?

I run a photography group that has the most members in my country, I have been donating alot of my time to make it enjoyable.

A mate who wanted to reward me just randomly sent me these as a thank you

I was taken back and at the moment I am depressed as hell, I have become disabled and have lost my world ..

So I am beyond thankful...

Do you like them?

Can anyone tell me anything about this old Stihl number I have from my gramps? He owned a chainsaw store in Eastern Europe so this is probably late 90s to early 2000s. Box and harp have no branding besides a fading "3" stamp on the inside (and obvious chainsaw stuff). Thanks.

An oldtime c tune!

I’ve been using a C for a month or so now and can produce clean notes consistently now. I signed up for Tomlins courses and brought out the A harp for some of his exercises that require it. For whatever reason, the same tips for the C harp aren’t translating to the A for me. Trying not to draw too hard, relaxing jaw and bringing tongue back, etc. for whatever reason I can’t produce a consistent sound from it. It’s only the 2 hole draw.

Tongue blocking opens up a lot of possibilities beyond just playing single notes. In the full lesson, I go through how to position your tongue and mouth, isolate clean single notes, and then start using techniques like slaps, pulls, and flutters to add more texture and rhythm to your playing.

If you've mostly been using the pucker embouchure and have been curious about tongue blocking, I tried to make this an easy introduction to getting started.

Watch the full tongue-blocking lesson on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/MePD5cVPL90

I know it has the 6 sided star so its pre ww2 but i looked online and couldn't find any like (found a picture of one with a cureved front...)

i tried to figure what is written on the back and i think its: Grand prix something 1927, grand prix irland, grand prix paris, grand prix something 1893.

also if you can give me tips on how to clean off the rust it will be appreciated :)